Soffit mounting monitors

  • Thread starter Thread starter HangDawg
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HangDawg

HangDawg

bUnGhOlIo
I guess this will be a multi part question on soffit mounting my monitors. I have so far been mostly concerned about treating my recording and monitoring environment over buying tons of really cool gear. I think it has been a good choice because every time I add treatments/modifications to the room itself, I have noticed instant improvements.

Question 1:
Do I have enough space? By looking at the picture, do you think there is enough space to soffit mount my monitors. I have rigid fiberglas behind them now which would have to come down. And I could also move everything forward some as well.

Question 2:
My monitors are Event Studio Precision 8's. Would it benefit me to soffit mount these and is there any reason why these particular monitors should not be? I have read that it's a good thing to do and will really help with low end and imaging in the room. I just don't want to make anything worse.


Question 3:
Is it really difficult to do and do properly? I'm not the most skilled carpenter in the world nor do I have the best tools. Are there any plans available to look at and or suggestions to help me along? That is of course if this will be a worthwhile investment of my money and time.
 
Before I can answer any of the 3 questions, I need to know something:
Are the monitors rear ported?
 
HangDawg said:
Thank you Vestast. Yep front ports.

No problem. :)

I'm interested too, cause I still want to pick up a pair of these. :cool:
 
I'm sorry, I was loking at the monitors in the picture and thinking.... those are rear ported! Rear ported speakers are a no-no for soffit mounting.

John's got a nice detail for mounting speakers in soffits:

Speaker%20EL.gif


I'll go out and take some pictures of mine, which are under construction, and give you some more ideas as to how to go about mounting them....
 
Ok, here's some pictures:

Start by determining your speaker geometry. In all cases this should be a 60 deg. equalateral triangle.
Determine the height at which you want your monitors. In some cases this puts the bottom of the speaker at seated ear level.
I opted to have mine higher, and angle them downwards. You'll not that's an option in John's detail.

Then start by building a basic frame:
 

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Note that the bottom of the frame has a "Port to Bass Trap" as per John's detail:
 

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Cover the top of the frame with Cabinet Grade 5/8" plywood:
(note: there should be a vent cut into the plywood; about the size of a 1U rack space)
 

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Then you have to build the actual housing for the speaker. This should fit the speaker EXACTLY, so that when you push the speaker into it, its actually pushing out the air behind it.
Use good joinery as indicated by the highlighted areas:
 

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The inside front of the frame gets covered in cabinet grade, 5/8" plywood.
(I have yet to do this so I just clamped up a small piece for this picture.)
 
Then in front of that, place your 2" rigid fibergalss insulation:

(Do not cover the bass port with the plywood.) ;)
Then cover the frame with the fabric of your choice.
 

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Are there any requirements as to the size of the cavity surrounding the speaker? Obviously it has to be large enough to hold the speaker but I'm kinda limited on space as you can see in the picture. I don't want to push the mix position back too far or I'll be too close to the back wall.
 
Make sure you use good carpentry skills, ans screw & glue all your joints!
 

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That's where I'm at with mine. The frame will get extended to the ceiling, but I'm waiting untill the sheetrock is up before I do that so that I'll have a nice tight fit there.
 

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HangDawg said:
Are there any requirements as to the size of the cavity surrounding the speaker? Obviously it has to be large enough to hold the speaker but I'm kinda limited on space as you can see in the picture. I don't want to push the mix position back too far or I'll be too close to the back wall.
Its almost uncontrollable. I mean the housing sets your depth, right?
and the 60 degree angle kind of sets your width. You just have to work with what you've got. I'm sure it'll be fine.
 
Hello Michael, I was under the impression you were using Barefoots extended baffle design. So you have a "reversed wall" or an "absorption baffle" then, is that correct? I never saw Johns detail for this. I always thought it was simply a flat panel front. Hmmmm, well bust my britches, learn somethin new evra diay! :D
fitZ
 
Hi Rick.
I guess on the front of the soffit frame that would be a reversed wall.
All my other walls are double walls with triple layers and rockwool in between.

I'm going to use YOUR detail for the rear surrounds extended baffle though!

I'm still doing some audio wiring and cuttin' rockwool for the studio. Should be able to begin sheetrock by the end of this month.
 
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